Automatic machine speed control mechanism



H. J. BYRNE v 2,321,455

AUTOMATIC MACHINE SPEED CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Nov. 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 o.\ E ow mm ME mm 81%.; mm m *m x N Y .mm mi mx v M Q 31 w wk mm mm m5 kw R K J mm H NH m $\I b H MN a. i. I QM. WW fiunu w v RR 16% w mu Q 1 a w H. 5 w w\ *3 mm u N8 M II mm m I l l l l l Q m I. L m Q\ n H m6 7 Q n m. mm mm hm mNT m: mw\

5 N NE June 8, 1943.

June 8, 1943. H. J. BYRNE AUTOMATIC MACHINE SPEED CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Nov. '7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q ow mm v H 3 w mm mwy m. X l I JfT m mwm mm N Z mk a j m MN T M 4 mm mm v M w mm Qw/ \mm r. M QR v0 n3 R MQ ww I 9 5 m P v m. 9 m mh Q m mw\ QN\ M h 3 NS n k a as, in mh M. N 1| 0% v r u I I w 5 1.. M LII! mt MN .3 m HHJ & Nu w ill Q 5 mm Q 3 01 w U E h n mi 0\\ INVENTOR. HUGH J. .BYRNE A TTORNEY Patented June 8, 1943 AUTOMATICMAGHINE SPEED-CONTROL ,MECHANIVSM Hugh J. Byrne, Oakland, Calif.

Application November 7, 1939, Serial No. 303,250 i.

8 Claims.

my parent co-pending patent-application Serial No. 125,822, filed February 15, 1937, .which will be issued on December 5, 1939, as Patent No. 2,182,310.

The invention herein relates to the automatic regulation of the speeds of machines in general, and the principal object of the inventionv is to provide improved automatic means for regulating or controlling the speeds-of industrial equipment through the. intermediary of a Reeves variable speed transmission or equivalent mechanical speed varying device having a shiftable controlling element. A further-object of the invention is to provide means for the purpose above set out wln'ch Will provide for changing the controlled speed of the driven machine, or piece of equipment, from a remote point. A further feature is the provision of a fluid-operated speed indicator at the same or other remote point.

A still further object is to provide automatic meansof varying the controlled result in. desired relation to the speed of the mechanism for attaining said controlled result. Other objects are reliability of performance, simplicity of construction and low cost of equipment compared to the cost of prior apparatus.- for similar purposes. Other objects and/or advantages: of the invention will appear in the following specification and accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan showinga variable speed transmission for operating a conveyor; the purpose of the invention being to. maintain a fixed transmission speed ratio and accomplishing this result from a remote point at which point the speed ratio can be varied at will and further the speed ratio can be indicated .or the resultant transmission output speed, dependent upon said ratio, can be indicated. Discussion of detail shown on Figure 1 will be given below, which detail is exactly the same as that shown in Figure 4 of application.Serial No. 125,822.

Figure 2 is a schematic'planshowing a1 variable speed transmission -for operating the perforated drum of a rotary filter; the purpose of-the invention being to maintain a fixed transmission speed ratio for any controlled liquid level condition in the rotary filter and toaccomplish this result from a remote point and at-which point the speed ratio can be varied. Discussion cide- (Cl. 74-'-230.17) This application is a continuation in part .of'

Before describing the invention in detail-it maybe stated that many types of industrialmachinery are drivenzthrough the intermediary of a variable speed transmission, that probably the most common of. such transmissions is the Reeves variable-speed transmission .and for which, together with similar. transmissions having a shiftable. speed changing element, the invention is primarily concerned.

The variable speedtransmissioncomprises a frame .I .with.two pairs of confronting cone pulleys 2 and Srotatably mounted on the frame, each pair respectively on the driving and driven shaft,.and the pulleys connected bya special beveled edge belt 4, the arrangement beingsuch as to permit the pulleys of each pair to open and close, that. isthose of each pair can appreach each other axially. on their respective shafts 'to-forcethe belt to ride at differentscone diameters depending upon the spacing of-the pulleys of-each pair, the usual construction providing hand-operated .means not shown, for

opening. and closing one pair of pulleys; and a spring 5 acting on the other pair of pulleys 3 forcihg them to assume the proper. position to accommodate the particular cone diameter Where the belt is riding on the pulleys. Some of the models have a leverage arrangement for positively closingone pair of pulleys proportionately as the other pair is .opened-iromthe same leverage system. I

The present invention automatically operates the pulleys .undercontrol of some outputifunction of the machine to be driven, or :of the work to-be-donei e a In the drawings my apparatus 'is-operatively connected for shifting the driving pulleys 2, although it may operate either or both pair, depending upon the. particular construction oi-the variable speed transmission, and the driving pulleys, or rather the shaft upon which they are mounted (not shown) is driven by any source of mechanical power, generally a motor 6, and a driven pulley shaft. 1, which may extend through a set of reduction gears in a casing 8,a-nd which may or, may not incorporate a suitable clutch for disconnecting the driven machine fromthe driven shaft of the variable speed transmission if desired.

In Figure I the driven machine is'a belt conveyor Qpassing over a driving pulley I0 mounted on a shaft I! which is connected to, the reduction gearsonthe variable speed. transmission output shaft or driven shaft 1, as may be desired.-

The pulley of the pair 2 nearest the motor 6 revolves at substantially constant speed in one plane, or in other words it is not moved axially. The other pulley of this pair is arranged to be moved axially, and obviously as it is moved toward the motor 6 the output speed of the transmission and that of the conveyor 9 is increased. A servomotor hydraulic cylinder 2| is firmly mounted on the transmission case by a suitable bracket 22 in such a manner that it and the cone pulleys 2 have a common axis. Cylinder 2| is really two cylindam of different diameters, or one casting bored out to form an inner cylinder 23 with a larger cylinder 24 extending outwardly therefrom. and closed by a cylinder head 25. The smaller and larger cylinders are provided with nicely fitted pistons 26 and 2! respectively, of any approved design, including the usual cup leathers or sealing rings, spacedly secured to a common piston rod 28 which is secured at its inner end to a yoke 29 slidablysupported on two guides 39, which yoke engages a suitable anti-friction collar 3I on the outer of pulleys 2 for sliding this pulley back and forth as the pistons are moved outward and inward respectively in their cylinders. The position of the slidable pulley 2 and likewise the speed of the conveyor 9 is varied through the action of the pilot valve I9 which controls fluid flow through pipes and 33. Pipe 20 enters the outer end of the large diameter cylinder 24 through cylinder head and may be conveniently provided with a shut-off valve 32. Pipe 33 enters the small diameter cylinder 23 at its'outer end and this line may also be conveniently provided with a shut-off valve 34. Cylinder 23 is also pro- I vided with a drain pipe 35 to carry away any seepage which may get past piston 26. With the construction of the two diameter cylinder '2I having the two different sized pistons in it as described, a differential piston is provided so that with fluid at the same pressure supplied to both cylinders through pipes 20 and '33, the piston assembly, yoke 29, and outer pulley 2 would move inward or to the left in Figure 1 (by reason of the greater area of the pistonin the outer cylinder), to thereby move the pair of cone pulleys 2 closer together, and force the belt 4 to ride at a larger diameter on these pulleys while at the same time reduce the diameter of the pulleys 3 where the belt 4 is in contact with same and thus increase the speed of the driven shaft 1 andconveyor 9. p

If the fluid pressure in the outer end of cylinder 24 is lowered by any means to a point where the force on the right side of piston 21 is less than the differential force tending to move the piston assembly to the right, which differential force is the result of the full supply pressure being between pistons 26 and 21 at all times andthe difference in area between these two pistons, the assemblage including the outer of cone pulleys 2 will move outward and thereby reduce the speed of the driven shaft 1 and conveyor 9.

By the use of two different sized pistons secured to one piston rod and working in a cylinder having differential bores as described, the necessity for stufiing boxes on the piston rod is avoided thereby eliminating a factor which could affect sensitiveness and response of control through friction. This system also makes it possible to use a two-way pilot by which displacement of the piston assembly is produced through controlling fluid flow in pipe line 20, pipe line 33 always carrying uncontrolled supply pressure. Actually the pilot valve does control fluid flow in pipe line 33 because fluid must necessarily flow out of the small diameter cylinder 23 when the pilot valve causes fluid to flow into the large diameter cylinder 24 through pipe line 20.

The length of stroke of the piston assembly and consequent movement of the cone pulleys in either direction may be limited by stopnuts 9| and 32 to adjustably vary the speed range of the transmission.

In practice uncontrolled fluid pressure, from a reasonably constant pressure source, is maintained in pipe 33, through branch pipe 33', from any desired source X and the pressure in pipe 2!] is varied through the action of the automatic pilot which is influenced by the pressure in diaphragm chamber H4 (resulting from the liquid leg in stand pipe 629) and the compression loading of spring 62. The fluid source X is cleansed of foreign matter by passing through a filter, or

strainer B l, before passing through branch pipe 33 principally to prevent fouling the orifices of the pilot valve which will be discussed below.

The pilot I3, shown enlarged in the drawings, comprises a suitably supported fixed body, generally located at the desired remote control point, although it may be close to the variable speed transmission if desired. The body is made of several pieces 35, 31, 38, 39 and I I5 suitably secured together and formed to provide the several threaded ports H, 42, 43, M and ISI and chambers 4|, 46, 41, 48 and H4 as shown,. and with flexible (preferably rubber fabric) diaphragms 5D and 5|, separating chamber 4'! from chambers 46 and 58, and a similar diaphragm I !6 closing the lower side of chamber H4,

The chamber I I4 is connected to an expansible chamber I22 through pipe I28 so that liquid can be drawn from or sent to stand pipe I20 by displacement of the shiftable or outer of the pair of pulleys 2 to change the pressure in chamber H4 in a manner described below. The height of 'liquid I2! in the stand pipe I20 being a function of the displacement of the transmission shiftable pulley is, therefore, also a function of the speed of conveyor 9 and can be so indicated by graduation on a glass tube as shown.

Chamber, H4 is a part of diaphragm chamber head H5 which'is fixedly supported on uprights 39 and together with the ring on the bottom of same, clamping diaphragm I I6 in a fixed position, forms a seal for chamber H4. Washers II! and I I8 are clamped to the center of diaphragm H6 by means of bolt I I the head of which is rounded and bears against the top of a flat flange 64, being so constructed to eliminate the necessity of securing perfect alignment with needle valve 66 whenoperating same. A compression spring 62 is provided reacting between an adjusting nut 63 and the lower side of flange 64 secured to or formed on the upper enlarged portion 65 of the needle valve 66, and which needle valve is adapted to more or less close a relief passage 6'! leading from chamber 48 to port 24 and waste pipe 68. The structure includes, for purposes of construction, securely aligned nipples 69 and 10 for facilitating alignment of the relief passage 61 with needle valve 66. Where close alignment is necessaryfit has been provided, but wherever possible the structure has been made to eliminate the necessity of'close alignment. However, the foregoing details of construction may be varied considerably.

With the arrangement described it will be seen that any variation of pressure in chamber H4 due to displacement of the transmission shiftable pulley will at once react against diaphragm H and the resultant force on same opposed by the compression spring 62 will Va'r'y'the elevation of the needle valve 68. Accordingly, by the arrangement described th'ere'is provided a self-contained'liquid pressure or fluid pressure system having a fixed quantity of liquid or fluid therein extending from the variable speed transmission to the pilot arranged to influence the latter in controlling the speed of the variable speed transmission.

Port 4| connects to pipe fromthe larger bore of cylinder 2|, while port 42 connects to pipe 3.3 from the smaller bore-of cylinder 2| and communicates with a chamber or extension 4| of port 4| through a small restricted passage or orifice 12' in a threaded nozzle 13. Chamber 4| communicates by way of a small passage 14 with port 43 through chamber 46 to waste pipe 15, and

passage 74 is beveled outwardly at its upper 1;

end and surmounted with a loose or floating conical valve it which may be forced downward to more or less close the passage 14 upon downward flexing of diaphragms and 5| which are clamped firmly at their-margins to the pilot structure 3'15, 3?, and 38 and which are also clamped at their centers by washers TI and 18, the latter of which may be the head of a bolt 19 which passes through a tapered spacer 80, so

that the diaphragms will flex together when the pressure is varied above diaphragm 5|.

Extending from port 42 is a small passage 8! which continues through the clamped margins of both diaphragms 5B and 5| as indicated and connects'with chamber 4'! and also connects through a restricted passage or orifice 82 in a threaded nozzle 83 with chamber 48.

To definitely limit the speed of shifting the transmission shiftable pulley Zby the hydraulic cylinder 2|, one or more service cocks85 and 86 with plugs having a difierent fixed size restricted opening 8'! and 88, may be included in pipe 28, each plug also having a large bore 89 and 90, equal to the maximum. capacity desired for pipe 253. Thus by simply throwing either plug to bring its restricted opening in line with the pipe and the other with its large opening in line with the pipe the desired speed of operation of the control may be had without the use of needle valve adjustment which is uncertain and objectionable.

From chamber 48 fluid can flow past the needle valve at a rate dependent upon its approach to the opening at the top of nipple 69 and if liquid is used it will flow out through waste pipe 5 68. Chamber 4'! is always open to full supply pressure of the liquid or. fluid as the case may be. Chamber 4| leads back through port 4|, pipe 29 and cocks 85 and 86 to the outer end of large diameter cylinder bore 24 and also by way of passage 74 past floating valve 16 to waste pipe 15. The pressure in the large diameter cylinder 26 will therefore depend upon the opening of valve 76 as it controls a fluid outlet that is of far greater cross section than that of restricted inlet =.j-

orifice 12, and when valve ifivis fully open the pressure in chamber ll, pipev 2|] and cylinder 24 (between piston 2'! and cylinder head 25) can drop to almost zero thereby causing outward movement'of the piston assembly and diminish:-

ing speed of conveyor 9. Actually a'complete reversal in piston assembly movementcan be accomplished on a small change of pressure in chamber '41. g 7

As previously mentioned the pressure inchamijil ber l-M reacting against compression spring 62 controls the degree-of opening of needle valve 66 (which'is never quite closed) and thereby varies the pressure in chamber 48 and its effect upon diaphragm 5|. Full pressure being always maintained in chamber 41, from passage 8|, produces a constant upward force on plug due to the difierenc'e of the areas of diaphragms 50 and 5| that is exposed to fluid pressure in chamber 41, and if the pressure in chamber 48 falls to a value approximating one-half of the pressure in chamber 47, as it would when needle valve 66 is raised, disc 18 rises and permits'floating valve 16 (preferably made of hard rubber or similar material) to rise, and thereby'reduce the pressure'in chamber ill to a minimum causing outward movement of the piston assembly and diminishing speed of conveyor 9, as explained above; and occurring when the compression spring 62 upward thrust is greater than the downward-load on diaphragm H6 from pressure in chamber IM. sure in chamber H4 is such that it results in a greater downward load on diaphragm H6 than the upward thrust of spring 62 the needle valve 66 will be depressed restricting the flow through orifice 67 which will raise the pressure in chamber 48 and overcoming the normal upward thrust on plug 80 (explained above) cause the plug, discs 1'! and "3, center portions of diaphragms "50 and 5| and the floating needle 76 to move downward to restrict the flow from orifice 14. This results in an increased pressure in chamber 4| which is transmitted by line 20 to cylinder 24 causing the piston assembly to move inward and increase the speed of conveyor 9. v I V Orifice l4 and floating needle 15 are very inexpensive and when the cost of fluid used is a factor they can be replaced by a two-way slide valve (which has a negligiblelwaste) that can be moved vertically downward by disc 78 to open a supply port in a sleeve fixed in chamber 4|" while holding an exhaust port on the same sleeve closed to cause fluid to flow to cylinder 24 and conversely when disc .78 is raised it would permit the slide valve to rise and fluid to return from cylinder 24 by the supply port being closed and the exhaust port being opened. With such an arrangement orifice 12' would not be used, supply line 33w'ould feed fluid to the base of the slide valve and sleeve, and line 20 would connect 1 through body 36 to the sleeveat any point between the sleeveports, the upper port being the exhaust and the lower port being the supply port. Supply pressure would tend to lift the slide valve and this upward force could be assisted by a small spring at the base of the slide valve.

The above arrangement would eliminate the continuous flow of fluid through orifice M by replacing a friction-free valve it with an equivalent valve in result but one that would not be friction-free. However, friction in such-a valve is of no consequence due to the relatively great operating force afforded by diaphragm 5! and the continued use of a friction-free primary source of control, namely; the needle 66 which has a very loose fit in its guide piece Hi. In practice the needle valve 66 is always riding on a small jet of liquid or fluid issuing from orifice 61 and the actual movement up and down is only about .003".

By the action described the speed of the conveyor 9 will be very accurately controlled forlall upward thrustloads of spring 52' as adjusted remotely by nut 63; l

As stated in the foregoing chamber H4 is con- If the pres- 1 nected to an expansible chamber I22 through M4 by varying the height of 'the liquid I2I in stand pipe I20, that extends vertically upward from chamber head IE5, upon movement of the shiftable or outer of pair of cone pulleys 2. The stand pipe I20 is vented to atmosphere at its upper end and contains a high enough column of water or oil I2I to give the maximum liquid pressure desired in chamber II4 to balance spring 62. The effective head or pressure of the liquid is automatically varied upon any adjustment of the spring until the balance is reestablished to maintain the speed constant at the adjusted rate as follows: 7

The variation in head of liquid in the tube is carried out by means of a relatively large expansible chamber I22 connected to the liquid column of tube I20 by a pipe I28 and the chamber is conveniently secured to the frame I of the Reeves and operated by a pivoted lever I23 moved back and forth by longitudinal movement of the piston rod or shaft 28. f The expansible chamber I22 which may be a metal bellows, or a piston, is hereshown as a cylindrical chamber closed on one side by a large flexible diaphragm I24 to the center of which the end of the lever is pivotally connected at I25. The lever is fulcrumed at I26 to the margin of the chamber and the longer or free end of the lever is yoked to a collar on the rod 28 as indicated at IZI so that it will follow the motions of the rod 28 in opening and closing Reeves ulleys 2.

By this means, to change the speed of the Reeves, say to increase it, adjusting nut 63 is screwed down somewhat, thereby slacking off on the upward force .of compresison spring 62 against vdiaphragm H6 and thus increasing the effective head or pressure of the standing col umn of liquid |2I in chamber H4 and thereby forcing the needle valve 66 to close slightly. This at once builds up increased pressure in pipe 20 as explained above, and moves rod 28 toward .the left and closes pulleys 2 somewhat to increase the speed of' the Reeves and conveyor driven thereby.

This motion of rod 28 would keep up, until stopped by somev other function of the apparatus. However, as rod 28 moves to the left, it carries thelong end of lever I28 with it and pulls diaphragm I24 outward to expand chamber I22 and thereby draws more liquid from pipe I28 into it to quickly drop the column in tube I20 to a point where it permits the needle valve to rise again slightly to the neutral point, or where valve I8 is just open sufficiently to pass the water from orifice I2 without there being any flow in either direction in pipe 20 and hence holding the piston assembly in cylinders 2| locked.

It will be evident that instead of using the open variable stand pipe I20, to change the pressure in chamber H4, fitting I28 may be closedat I30 and a gas under pressure used in pipe I28 which gas pressure would be varied as the expansion chamber I22 was expanded or contracted. A dial type pressure gauge could be attached at I30 and graduated to indicate speed similar to the graduations on stand pipe Figure 2 is a schematic plan showing a variable speed transmission for operating the perforated drum IIO of a rotary filter employing the .same pilot valve as in Figure 1' except with a double pressure chamber type of head exactly the same as the Figure 2 pilot of application Serial No. 125,822, and the same expansible chamber as shown in Figure 1 of this application and'in Figure 4 of application Serial No. 125,822, except thati is rotated so that the volume of the expansible chamber decreases as the transmission output speed increases instead of its volume increasing as the transmission output speed increases. The action of the expansible chamber acts exactly the same as in Figure l in that whenever the thrust of compression spring 62 is changed by adjusting nut 63 the pilot forces the piston assembly in power cylinder 2I' to move to such a position as will restore the pilot in neutral and thereby fix the position of the piston assembly. Forinstance, referring to Figure 1, if the nut 83 is screwed downward to lessen the thrust of compression spring 62, the piston assembly will move inward increasing the volume of the expansible chamber I22 which restores the pilot in neutral as explained above; referring to Figure 2 if the compression spring thrust is similarly lessened, the piston assembly will move inward but decreases the volume of the expansible chamber I22 to restore the pilot in neutral in a manner fully described in the following. Since, with the exception of the pilot head construction, the pilot of Figure 2 is identical to that of Figure 1 all similar parts of the pilot and variable speed transmission are designated by the same numerals used in Figure 1 and only those parts that are at variance therewith bear new numbers. The variable speed transmission is the same as in Figure 1 except that it drives a rotating perforated drum IIIl instead of a conveyordrum I0 by shaft II. As shown, drum H0 is supported at the top of the filter tank II3 on suitable bearings in an aqueous mixture. Means, not shown, withdraw filtered liquid out of the inside of the rotating perforated drum and the solid matter is scraped 01f of the periphery of the drum which solid matter passes through a chute to a collecting or disposal system. A pipe III leads from a point below the lowest desired liquid level H2 and extends to port I 3| of pressure chamber I04, the lower of a double pressure chamber pilot head 40. The stand pipe I20 and balancing line I28 from expansible chamber I22 is connected through port 45 to pressure chamber 49, the upper of the double pressure chamber head 40 which chamber is fixedly supported on uprights '30. A means of providingvertical movement through head 40 consists of a pair of plates 54 and 55 and spaced bolts 56 which are slidable in vertical openings 51 in member 40, the travel being limited by nuts 55' on bolts 56. Plates 54 and 55 are secured to diaphragm 52 by clamping washers 58 and 59 and bolt 60 and to diaphragm I05 by clamping washers I06 and I01 and bolt II the head of which is rounded and bears against the top of a flat flange 64 being so constructed to eliminate the necessity of securing perfect alignment with needle valve 66 when operating same. The cycle of increasing the output speed of the transmission by downward movement of needle 66 and decreasing the output speed by raising needle 66 has been explained in the discussion of Figure 1 and as it is identical for Figure 2 it will not be repeated.

It will be noted that the pressure in chamber I04, resulting from the height of the liquid I I2 in tank II3, transmitted by line III,'tends to move the yoke assembly 54, 55 and 56 downward while the pressure in chamber is resultingfrom the height of the liquid I2I in stand pipe I20, and varied by the volume of expansible chamber I 22, tends to move the yoke assembly upward as'also does the compression spring 62. As the spring assists the pressure in chamber 49 to raise the yoke assembly the height of the liquid I2! must always be lower than the liquid level I i2 when liquid is used in standpipe I (instead of a gas) and assuming both liquids are of like specific gravity. This is also predicated on the yoke assembly being of negligible weight.

Considering any set of liquid levels in stand pipe I20 and tank II3 if adjusting nut as is screwed downward tolessen the thrust of compression spring 62, the pressure in chamber I04, resulting in a greater downward thrust'on the yoke assembly than the combined upward thrust of spring 62 and that due to the pressure in chamber 49, will depress needle 65 to start moving the piston assembly 26, 21 and 28 inward to increase the output speed of the transmission and the filter drum III). Simultaneously, the end of lever I23 that is attached to a collar on piston rod 28 at I27 moves inward thereby decreasing the volume of the expansible chamber I22 as the lever I23 is fulcrumed at I28 to the margin of the expansible chamber I22 and is pivotally connected at I25 to the center of a large flexible diaphragm I24 which is fixed at its margin to expansible chamber I22. The resultant decrease in the volume of expansible chamber I22 moves liquid therefrom into stand pipe I253 via line I28 to increase the pressure in chamber 49 and the cycle continues until the resultant increase in upward thrust on the yoke assembly, due to rising pressure in chamber 49, is equal to the decrease in compression spring thrust made .at the start of the cycle. If the upward thrust of compression spring 02 is increased, the transmission speed is decreased and, upon increasing the volume of the expansible chamber I22, the pilot is-restored to neutral. When equilibrium has been attained, the pilot fixes the position of the piston assembly 26, 21 and 28.

Considering any set of liquid levels in standpipe I20 and filter tank I I 3, when the pilot is in neutral (fixing the position of the piston assembly in the servo-motor hydraulic cylinder 2|) and a state of equilibrium exists in the filter tank H3 (that is the rate of filtration accomplished by perforated drum H0 is equal to the rate of inflow of material to tank H3 to be filtered) if the rate of in-fiow to tank II3 increases, the liquid level I I2 will increase. This will produce a rising pressure in chamber I04, which, through the pilot action explained in the foregoing, will increase the output speed of the Variable speed transmission and the speed of filter drum I I 0. As the output speed of the variable speed transmission increases, the volume of the expansible chamber I22 decreases, thereby causing fluid to flow therefrom through pipe I28 and into standpipe I20 to raise therein the liquid level I 2 I. Such a rise of liquid level I2I will obviously increase the pressure in chamber 49. The output speed of the variable speed transmission will continue to increase until, by the simultaneous decrease in volume of expansible chamber I22, the pressure in chamber 49 raises the yoke assembly 54, 55 and 56 to reposition the pilot I 9 in neutral and fix the position of the piston assembly in cylinder 2 I. When, by the action of expansible chamber I22, the pilot I9 has been restored to neutral, the diiference in liquid levels H2 and I2I will beexactly the same as the difference between these two levels at the start of the cycle discussed herein. On the other hand, if the rate of in-flow to filter-tank I I3 suddenly decreasea causing alowering of liquid level I I2, the pressure in chamber I04 will obviously decrease. This, of course, causes'a-decrease in the speed of the filter drum H0 and by the outwardmovement of the piston assembly in cylinder 2I toproduce such a decrease in speed, the volume of the expansi-ble chamber I22 is increased and this will lower the liquid level I2I to eventually reduce the-pressure in chamber 49 to restore the pilot I0 toneutral. When this conditionhas been'established, the difference in liquid level between II2 and I2I will be exactly the same as the difference between these levels at the beginning of the cycle discussed herein. Accordingly, as the rate of'in-flow to the filter tank IE3 increases, the controlled result, or liquid level I2, will rise as the speed ofthe filterdrum I I0 increases to increasethe rate of filtration.

Having thus described my improved'control for equipment driven by a variable speed transmission of the Reeves type and some of the various arshifting rod 28 and insures against any change in adjustment of pulleys 2until moved byapilot action; yet a gas, such as air, might be used instead lof a liquid where inferior results would satisfy. Hence, any use of air or gas in place of the hydraulic meansshown and described herein is to that. extent intended to be covered as an inferior substitute in the appended claims where use of the words hydraulic and-liquid are employed.

I claim:

1. Means for controlling a variable speed transmission having a shiftable element for changing its speed which comprises providing an hydraulic piston operatively connected to said element for shifting the same, means for admitting a liquid under pressure to and for operating said piston, a pilot arranged and adapted for controlling the flow of liquid to and from said piston, a liquid pressure line extending to said pilot and forming a standing liquid column above the same arranged to influence the pilot in controlling said fiow, and means for varying the height of said column upon movement of said piston.

2. Means for controlling a variable speed transmission having a shiftable element for changing its speed which comprises providing an hydraulic piston operatively connected to said element for shifting the same, means for admitting a liquid under pressure to and for operating said piston, a pilot arranged and adapted for controlling the flow of liquid to and from said piston, a liquid pressure line extending to said pilot and forming a standing liquid column above the same arranged to influence the pilot in controlling said flow, and means for varying the height of said column comprising an expansible chamber connected to said line, a lever connected to said chamber and arranged to be moved back and forth with the movement of said piston.

-3. Means for controlling a variable speed transmission having a shiftable element for changing its speed which comprises providing a servo-motor operatively connected to said element for shifting the same, means for admitting a fluid under pressure to and for operating said servo-motor, a pilot arranged and adapted for controlling the flow of fluid to and from said servo-motor, a self-contained fluid pressure system having a fixed quantity of fluid under pressure therein extending to said pilot arranged to influence the same in controlling said flow, and means for varying the fluid pressure in said system upon movement of said servo-motor.

4. In the structure set out in claim 3, the last mentioned means comprising an expansible chamber forming a part of said fluid pressure system expanded and contracted by movement of said element.

- 5. Means for controlling a variable speed transmission having a shiftable element for changing its speed which comprises providing an hydraulic piston operatively connected to said element for shifting the same, means for admitting a liquid under pressure to and for operating said piston, a pressure responsive pilot valve arranged and adapted for controlling the flow of liquid to and from said piston, pressure applying means extended to said pilot arranged to influence the pilot in controlling said flow, and means operated by direct connection from said piston for varying the pressure applied to said pilot valve upon movement of said piston whereby the pressure applied to said pilot valve is progressively increased or decreased as the piston is moved from one of its extreme positions to the other.

6. Means for controlling a variable speed transmission having a shiftable element for changing its speed which-comprises providing a servo-motor operatively connected to said element for shifting the same, means for admitting a liquid under pressure to and for operating said servo-motor, a pressure responsive pilot valve arranged and adapted for controlling the flow of liquid to and from said servo-motor, pressure applying means extended tosaid pilot arranged to influence the pilot in controlling said flow, and means operated by direct connection from said element for varying the pressure applied to said pilot valve upon movement of said servo-motor whereby the pressure applied to said pilot valve is progressively increased or decreased as the shiftable element is moved from one of its extreme positions to the other.

7. Means for controlling a variable speed transmission having a shiftable element for changing its speed which comprises an hydraulic piston operatively connected to said element for shifting the same, means for admitting a liquid under pressure to and for operating the piston, a pilot arranged and adapted for controlling the flow of liquid to and from said piston, a fluid pressure system extending to said pilot and arranged to influence the pilot in controlling said flow, an expansible fluid chamber forming a part of said system, and mechanical means for expanding and contracting said chamber upon shifting of said element whereby the pressure developed in said system is progressively increased or decreased depending on the position of said element.

8. In a machine driven by a variable speed transmission having a back and forth shiftable speed changing element, means for automatically shifting said element to maintain substantially constant speed of said machine under varying conditions of work, comprising a servo-motor connected to and for positively shifting said element, pipe means for introducing fluid under pressure to said servo-motor for operating the same, a pilot valve controlling flow of fluid in said pipe means, a self-contained liquid pressure system having a fixed quantity of liquid under pressure therein extending from said machine, means for controlling said pilot valve in response to varying pressure in said liquid pressure system, and means varying the pressure in said system in reponse to back and forth movement of said element.

HUGH J. BYRNE. 

